Pulling hard on many of the tropes from classic zombie films and B horror, “Attack of the Southern Fried Zombies” culminates to a fun 82 minute romp that won’t be changing the genre anytime soon.

The story follows Lonnie (Timothy Haug) as he lives his small town life as a crop duster for GloboBioTech, a company working with their experimental chemical Quadoxin in an attempt to fight off the invasive plant species known as kudzu. At the towns annual fair, his day goes from bad to worse when a failed attempt to hit on his ex-flame, Kayla (Wyntergrace Williams), is then quickly interrupted by an outbreak of Kudzu Zombies.

Steering hard into the campiness of the B horror genre, “Attack of the Southern Fried Zombies” is full of groan worthy characters that are flat imitations from various other zombie films, helping us to remember that nobody loves the small town rednecks until people start eating eachother.

The low budget of the film is most shown with its poor CGI attempts. The low quality of the CGI, however, does not stop the movie from using it over and over again. From bullets blowing half a zombies head off to excessively large explosions, the film works hard trying to make the CGI work for the film, but ultimately the poor graphics are a distraction from the rest of the film.

Despite the terrible CGI, many of their practical effects are pulled off well, giving life to some of the film’s bloodier scenes. While the first zombie’s mask is blatantly obvious, the rest of the films practical effects play well to the B horror strengths of the film.

Still, despite its many flaws, “Attack of the Southern Fried Zombies” gives an original feel by making use of the South’s most infamous weed, kudzu.

With earnest acting, zombie mayhem and a killer credits song, the movie makes for 82 minutes of fun, with intermittent moments for groans, teaching us strong lessons about the zombie dangers of weed and the importance of meat pies.

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2018/03/14/attack-of-the-southern-fried-zombie-a-fun-b-horror-romp/feed/0680CE6239C2-AD54-BA83-D6CD691CC4A0C82Azamonthlysouthern-fried-zombies-still-three-360x240MV5BOWEyNzI3YmYtODRlOS00ZDU2LWJiM2QtYTliYzEyZDBjZGQ5XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQ5OTQwMDQ@._V1_5k zombie run or how to literally run for your lifehttps://zamonthly.org/2018/03/13/5k-zombie-run-or-how-to-literally-run-for-your-life/
https://zamonthly.org/2018/03/13/5k-zombie-run-or-how-to-literally-run-for-your-life/#respondTue, 13 Mar 2018 13:05:37 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5259Read More 5k zombie run or how to literally run for your life]]>

Editor’s Note: We love zombies and make it our mission to seek out as much zombie-themed madness as we possibly can. Somehow, though, none of us had ever experienced a Zombie 5k in person. To fix this, we decided to send our intrepid intern to Florida to see just how much blood, sweat and tears were involved.

By Margot Allemand

The Zombie Run, which is organized by Darren and Missy Dietsch, was held in Largo, Florida, 30 minutes east of Tampa. The Floridian couple is not a beginner in organizing events, as a matter of fact, they started organizing runs six years ago and have now it’s a family business. Often helped by their young children and friends, they have kept their business local for practical reasons.

Although they do not organize runs outside of Florida, they still offer a wide range of locations to satisfy as many runners and zombie lovers as possible. Outside of the Zombie Run in Largo, they also organize events in Tampa, Orlando and Sarasota.

They held their first 5k zombie run back in 2012 at a time when people were getting ready for a possible apocalypse and The Walking Dead phenomenon was just starting. Darren, being a zombie fan, and Missy, being an avid runner, had the idea of combining two things they loved into one fun event.

“What’s the number one rule in a zombie apocalypse? Cardio! I once joked that I was sure he would run if he was being chased by zombies,” Missy said. “He was sure he would be able to get away from them, if that ever happened.”

That first event was a success with about 1000 participants, and they were not the only one. At the time many zombie related events were happening all around the country. Although those events slowly died out, due to lack of organization or potential real zombie threats, Darren and Missy have kept their events running and have now organized their 15th 5k zombie run.

Upon my arrival on the site, it felt like the organizers had made a deal with the undead already. The event, which started at 8 a.m. with check in, was filled with fog that added some dramatic effect. Once on the site, I could see why Missy and Darren had kept the run going, as I walked into one playful atmosphere.

Participants were slowly getting ready, with a long line of people waiting to get turned into zombies patiently waiting their turns. While nobody was harmed in the making of those scary zombies, makeup artists were definitely kept busy.

Mike Digital, a makeup artist who was present at the event, was one of the busiest. He has specialized in zombie makeup for seven years and an airbrush artist for over 20 years. Drawing on this experience, Digital was able to bring the death out of the most lively participants.

Even though Missy Dietsch admitted that the runs have gotten smaller, the crowd was still having fun, whether they were socializing, going to the blood splatter station, or stretching before the beginning of the run. The 200 participants were definitely excited as the run got closer and closer.

“We are committed to hosting great events for however many people want to join us, and we want 200 people to have the same great experience as 2,000 people,” Missy said.

While most people were from Florida, a little northern accent caught my attention. In fact, Cindy and her family at traveled all the way from Montréal, Canada for the race. Like a lot of participants she had been to the event the year before and loved the concept.

The event, which gathered running enthusiasts and zombie lovers of all ages, created a very diverse group of both runners and new undeads. From the goal-oriented runner Sunny and her friend Brandon who made a scary zombie impression, to Anne and Angela, two friends who were just hoping to stay alive through it all, participants all had different motives.

The zombie run, though playful with a little element of surprise, is safe for people from all ages. As a matter of fact, runners are allowed to walk, run, stop after one lap or to do the whole 5k. On the other hand, zombies are allowed to scare them. To do so they are allowed to hide, crawl, run or walk.

The runs are basically a mix of a 5k and a flag football game. The runners have belts and three flags symbolizing their lives, and zombies’ goal is to steal their lives. To keep the fun going, runners are allowed to get extra flags and special stations during their run.

“It’s just pure adrenaline and totally fun,” Missy said. “We have to be extra careful that people understand the fun nature of the event – and we give the zombies instructions to be careful to not to get too aggressive.”

As the run was about to start, Braden (a 9-year-old brain eater accompanied by his family and Sugey an high schooler who came with her friends before they got turned into zombies) were slowly getting dropped at different locations and getting ready to scare runners.

Although dogs are not officially allowed to participate, runners were stretching under the vigilant gaze of Lola the only zombie dog present at the event. Once the run started runners each had their own way of braving the zombies, some thought sprinting was the best approach, others tried to talk to the zombies first in desperate hope to be spared.

While most runners had a similar approach, some got pretty creative. There was the one who just dropped her flags so the zombies wouldn’t even try to attack her and the man yelling “look at the cute baby over there” in an attempt to make a diversion.

Every participant received a medal at the end of the race along with a 5k Zombie Run shirt. For more information about the next race and how to register, check their website www.the5kzombierun.com. And if you can not make it to Florida, you can always register as a virtual runner and get a tee shirt and a medal sent to you.

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2018/03/13/5k-zombie-run-or-how-to-literally-run-for-your-life/feed/0IMG_2013zamonthlyIMG_2137IMG_1925IMG_1931IMG_1953IMG_1939IMG_2001Blood of the Infected series comes to audio book; movie and TV could be nexthttps://zamonthly.org/2018/02/22/blood-of-the-infected-series-comes-to-audio-book-movie-and-tv-could-be-next/
https://zamonthly.org/2018/02/22/blood-of-the-infected-series-comes-to-audio-book-movie-and-tv-could-be-next/#respondThu, 22 Feb 2018 17:06:04 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5254Read More Blood of the Infected series comes to audio book; movie and TV could be next]]>By Chris Post

What could be worse than waking up and finding yourself in a zombie apocalypse? For the survivors of the The Blood of the Infected series by Anthony J. Stanton, things get a whole lot worse when they realize that not only are they dealing with zombies, but that vampires are also very real.

Now three books long, the series is getting a second life with the release of “Once Bitten, Twice Die” (the first of the series) as an audiobook and a television development deal in the works.

“At the moment I am in advanced negotiations with a major media production/distribution corporation regarding the TV and film adaptation of my books,” Stanton said. “There’s many a slip twixt cup ‘n lip, but nevertheless, things are looking extremely hopeful.”

In today’s age of multi-platform development and delivery, Stanton sees a bright and vast future for his literary creation that not only includes sequel books, but many additional projects as well.

“I have some storylines in my head for further books in the series anyway, and if the TV adaptation does go ahead then there will definitely be more, including some spin-off books and even some prequels,” he said, adding that the television series could continue for as long as a decade. “There will be possibly up to 10 seasons in the main story, maybe two spin-off shows with a few seasons apiece, and the prequels will most likely be done as films.”

When he sat down to right Once Bitten, Twice Die, film and television licensing wasn’t

Author Anthony J. Stanton drew on his real life experiences to create a believable world in which both zombies and vampires exist.

one Stanton’s mind. Instead he was looking to tell a story drawn from his own experiences.

“ It was triggered by the death of my mother to early onset dementia,” Stanton said, explaining the genesis of the story. “Long have I loved my zombie stories, and it occurred to me that some of the essential characteristics of advanced dementia – inability to talk, inability to reason, being driven by basic instincts etc, resemble, to a degree, some of the classic qualities that we know and love in our zombies.”

For his novels, Stanton sets forth a tragic error. A drug is being developed to fight dementia, but rather than cure the ailment, it makes it something far, far worse. For added drama, Stanton said he considered various monster mash-ups before settling on the addition of vampires.

Prior to writing the novels, Stanton had led a life that was somewhat out of the ordinary and provided him with some unique insights.

“I used to be in the British Royal Air Force, so the military aspects were second nature to me,” he said. “And then I have also had my fair share of interesting little scrapes over the years. I have been kidnapped, and shot at, amongst other adventures, and so I have personally experienced the smallest glimpse of PTSD. I think this possibly helped me to get my head around the potential shock, the emotions and reactions of those who find themselves in a terrible life-changing situation.”

Stanton said it was important to him to keep the books grounded in reality even if they are about zombies and vampires.

“I like to think that the origins of my zombies are just about as scientifically possible as can be. You’re left feeling that this could just be reality one day,” he said. “The reactions of the characters hopefully ring true throughout. At no stage should the reader think, that just would not happen! After all, the reader is no fool.”

Once the first book was complete, Stanton realized there was still more story tell. He said he was struck by something poet Robert Frost had once said that a writer who did not surprise himself would not surprise his readers.

“I used to think, how on earth can an author actually be moved to tears or be surprised by their own story? Now though I totally understand,” he said. “As I wrote, my story developed in ways I had not foreseen. There were indeed tears and there were surprises-a-plenty. Hence one book became two, became three. It was never my initial intention, but the story needed that time to develop.”

Stanton’s first three books are currently available on Amazon and other online retailers. The audio version of Once Bitten, Twice Die is available through Audio and Amazon. Visit Stanton’s Amazon page here.

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2018/02/22/blood-of-the-infected-series-comes-to-audio-book-movie-and-tv-could-be-next/feed/0oncebittenzamonthlyOBTD High Contrast newstantonSanta Clarita Diet set to rise for season 2https://zamonthly.org/2018/02/21/santa-clarita-diet-set-to-rise-for-season-2/
https://zamonthly.org/2018/02/21/santa-clarita-diet-set-to-rise-for-season-2/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 15:44:21 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5249Read More Santa Clarita Diet set to rise for season 2]]>

By Margot Allemand

Fans waiting to sink their teeth into the second season of the Netflix zombie comedy Santa Clarita Diet have about a month to wait. The streaming service announced this week that show starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant returns for a second helping on March 23.

The release date’s reveal comes a few days after it was announced that Joel McHale would be joining the cast for season two. McHale is known for hosting The Soup and portraying Jeff Winger on the NBC/Yahoo! sitcom Community. He will play a real estate agent in Santa Clarita Diet.

Season one, created by Victor Fresco, ran 10 episodes and had good reviews as well as

Joel McHale, center, will be joining the cast of Santa Clarita Diet for season 2.

criticism for being slightly graphic. How ironic when the plot is about a real estate agent who is suddenly turned into a zombie with a craving for human flesh.

The first episode of Santa Clarita Diet begins with a real estate agent couple Joel (Timothy Olyphant) and Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and their teenage daughter (Liv Hewson) whose lives are typical of any Californian suburban family. But everything changes when Sheila suddenly starts transitioning into a zombie and starts craving raw meat.

At first Sheila feels energized, more focused and finally has found her lost libido. She is also very, and I insist on very, driven by her id. It only took us one episode to see her kill for the first time ever, when she ends up eating a man who wants an affair with her. Although nobody will be missing this jerk, it awakens her love for human flesh, which announces the path the season is taking.

Watching Santa Clarita Diet can be a tiny bit of an adjustment, especially for the people who may have been used to Timothy Olyphant playing tough guy roles. Olyphant actually admitted in a Los Angeles Daily News’ interview that this role actually fits his personality off the screen.

The show is comical as we watch the family deal with eccentric neighbors, a teen in crisis, all while casually killing people that “ deserve it,” hiding bodies and trying to elucidate an ancient Serbian myth. The show portrays both the daily struggle of being a zombie and the struggle of raising a family in today’s society.

Yes, the undead have their problems too. In fact Sheila was not so enthused about eating a dead man’s hairy leg, but Joel came in clutch with a razor, after he watched his wife puke a ball of hair. Although, most of us probably never thought about this being a problem, it probably reassures many hairy men of their safety in case of an apocalypse.

Santa Clarita Diet is undoubtedly gory, starting with a nice and green Exorcist-style projectile vomit to begin the season. Viewers should definitely get prepared to see a lot of dead body parts and bloody shakes for breakfast.

But overall the butchery aspect of the show is well balanced with the cast chemistry and the hilarious events the family keep getting into.

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2018/02/21/santa-clarita-diet-set-to-rise-for-season-2/feed/0Netflixs-Santa-Clarita-Diet-Season-2-Joel-Hammond-670x447zamonthlysanta-clarita-diet-season2gsanta-clarita-diet-season-2-joel-mchale-castDying for a livinghttps://zamonthly.org/2018/02/03/dying-for-a-living/
https://zamonthly.org/2018/02/03/dying-for-a-living/#respondSat, 03 Feb 2018 16:45:15 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5224Read More Dying for a living]]>

By Chris Post

Death is nothing new to the cast of AMC’s The Walking Dead. The show has bid farewell to so many friends and foes over its run that we’ve lost count. But what about walkers? Actor Stephen Vining has lost count of how many times he’s died on the small screen.

“I’ve been killed 23 to 25 times on screen,” he said. “I used to know the exact number, but it’s been a year since I added them all up.”

Vining is among those actors who have found a niche regularly portraying zombies on The Walking Dead. You wouldn’t recognize him on the street, but fans of the show have seen him on screen almost 50 times over the years. Another six or so appearances didn’t make it through the editing process.

After appearing as zombies so many times, it might seem like it would be difficult to keep each performance unique. Vining said seeing himself in makeup helps him get into the character of each individual walker.

“Once I see the makeup, I take into account the placement of wounds or props and I let those guide my movement and expression,” he said. “Sometimes something in the script will call for a walker to be presented in a certain way.”

Although he only gets to spend an episode as any given walker, some of them are more memorable than others. Pinning down a favorite, however, is difficult.

“I like some of the because of the context of the scene they were in,” Vining said. “I like others because of the overall experience I had on set. I’ve given different answers when asked this question because of the difficulty I have choosing between them.”

Narrowing the list to three, Vining named the Grimsdyke tribute walker, Cherokee Rose walker and the Tree-intestine walker as standouts.

“The first walker that I really loved was the Grymsdyke tribute walker in Season 5, Episode 9,” he said. “I loved the wardrobe and that I was an old man. That walker stays with me so much because it was honestly the first day I felt like a real actor and the gravity of Tyreese’s death was heavy on my as he was my favorite character. To be a part of that was just awesome and serendipitous.”

Cherokee Rose was memorable for the makeup effects that were involved. Fans might remember the walker as for the distinctive flowering vine growing on it. The flower’s appearance was a throwback to season 2.

“The makeup was phenomenal and it was a challenging scene to film with timing,” Vining said.

The final walker on Vining’s list was the one that took out Walking Dead guest star Ethan Embry. Memorable for the way its intestines had become tangled in a stand of trees, the walker allowed Vining some quality time with the other actors.

“That scene was just so much fun to film and I got to be very physical with the actors, so it just stays with me,” he said.

Of course, getting up close and personal with main cast has its drawbacks as it as often as not leads to the demise of the walker in question. In Vining’s case, Rick and Daryl have finished him off the most often.

“It’s a tie between Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus,” he said. “Both have killed me five times each.”

Surprisingly, not every encounter means doom for a walker, however. Even heavy hitters like Rick and Daryl have been known to show some mercy.

“They both have a tendency to let my walkers shamble on down the road as well,.” Vining said. “Both have let me walk away unscathed a few times.

Getting made up as a zombie might not be ever actor’s dream job, but for Vining becoming a walker was a natural fit. After starting his acting career in 2013, his second casting call was an invitation to AMC’s infamous zombie school.

“I remember casting saying I had the perfect bone structure for a walker,” he said. “It was a very nice way of saying I was really skinny.”

Producers of The Walking Dead have made no secret of the fact they like thin actors who can carry off the look of gaunt and decaying zombies in the show.

Hero Walkers, those getting close-ups in the AMC zombie series, are known for their attention to detail and expert application of special effects make-up. That detail takes time to complete and the actors who play them can spend hours on end in a chair. While some actors bemoan the process, Vining said he doesn’t have a problem with it.

“When I first started it was a very strange experience, but what I’ve found really helps me pass the time and be still for the artists is meditation,” he said. “I started meditating the same year I started The Walking Dead and I kind of became known as the ‘Zen Zombie’ in the chair. It helps me be still and not fall asleep and it’s just a good time to brush up on that skill since I’m sitting there for a while anyway, right?”

Interestingly, Vining’s longest session in a makeup chair didn’t happen on the set of The Walking Dead.

“The longest I’ve spent in a makeup chair was approaching 7 hours,” he said. “It was on an indie short I just filmed called ‘Itch.’ It was a full body makeup and only one makeup artist. We had all day because my scenes were at night, so we took our time with it and definitely took breaks; but that was a long one.”

Vining also spent time in makeup on the set of the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he appeared in Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 2 as a Ravager. Although it was a new environment, he said familiar faces made the experience even more memorable.

“I got to work with a makeup artist named Kerrin Jackson on my first day and we are great friends. She also works on The Walking Dead and had done my makeup before, so it was a seamless transition,” Vining said. “I also got to work with makeup artist Bart Mixon. He is responsible for the original Pennywise makeup from It and did a lot of work on RoboCop. Listening to stories from those sets while getting my makeup put on really made my whole experience.”

Taking some time away from The Walking Dead also gave Vining a chance to gain some perspective and see his work on the show in a new light.

“I felt I had done most of what a walker could do,” he said. “But taking a year off, I realize now there are still things to be done and I’d relish the opportunity to be a true ‘Whisperer.’”

One thing that was never in question was fan reaction to his performances.

“Fans of The Walking Dead gave me a huge opportunity to get noticed and to gain more work in this field,” Vining said. “I’ve done several shows that don’t have this kind of fan base and I’d be nowhere without it. I love to meet fans at conventions and travel and the response I had in the UK will always be dear to me.”

Looking to the future, Vining said he’d like to continue finding work behind the mask, so to speak.

“I want to stay a creature performer for sure, but I’m open to comedy and villainous roles,” he said. “I like to play the bad guy and I hope I get as many opportunities to do it as I can!”

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2018/02/03/dying-for-a-living/feed/0maxresdefaultzamonthly2Stephen_Vinningthe-walking-dead-greg-nicotero​​​​​​​Capcom delivers Frank’s Big Package for Dead Rising 4 on PlayStation 4https://zamonthly.org/2017/12/05/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8bcapcom-delivers-franks-big-package-for-dead-rising-4-on-playstation-4/
https://zamonthly.org/2017/12/05/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8bcapcom-delivers-franks-big-package-for-dead-rising-4-on-playstation-4/#respondWed, 06 Dec 2017 03:34:25 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5221Read More ​​​​​​​Capcom delivers Frank’s Big Package for Dead Rising 4 on PlayStation 4]]>The hordes of undead are here just in time for a festive celebration with the release of Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package for PS4 across North America and Europe.

The title is a special delivery that will let players unwrap all the previously released Dead Rising 4 content including the main game and additional DLC. The latest bundle will also introduce a game mode called “Capcom Heroes,” an all-new way to experience the Dead Rising 4 story that lets Frank West wear over a dozen outfits of prominent Capcom characters and perform outrageous special attacks inspired by those whose shoes he’s wearing. Current Dead Rising 4 players on Xbox One, Steam and Windows 10 will receive the all-new “Capcom Heroes” mode as a free update as well.

Capcom has confirmed Resident Evil 7 biohazardGold Edition will be coming to retail and digital on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, alongside the remaining DLC for the game, all on December 12.

The title will include all the contents from the critically acclaimed release earlier this year along with all three pieces of downloadable add-on content, in one ultimate horror package. These previously released DLC packs – Banned Footage Vol. 1 and Banned Footage Vol. 2 will be included as well as the upcoming third DLC release End of Zoe. Capcom are also able to confirm today that the delayed Not a Hero DLC content will be available to download for free for owners of any version of Resident Evil 7 biohazard on this day.

End of Zoe is a shocking installment of the Resident Evil 7 biohazard saga where players discover what Zoe’s fate will be. Players will face off against new enemies and explore new swamp-filled areas. End of Zoe will be included in the Gold Edition or available as an update if you are a Season Pass owner. Owners of the original release will also be available to purchase the content as a separate download for $14.99/€14.99/£11.99.

The free Not a Hero DLC sees the return of Resident Evil fan favorite and veteran BSAA soldier Chris Redfield. Taking place after the horrific events that befell Ethan Winters in Resident Evil 7 biohazard,Not a Hero brings a brand new experience playing as Chris to face new threats not met in the main game. As a member of New Umbrella, Chris and team quickly set up a strategy to counter this latest threat. Will Chris once again solve the mystery of this latest outbreak and make it out of the plantation’s dungeons alive?

Nearly all content for PlayStation 4, including End of Zoe and Not a Hero can be enjoyed on PlayStation VR for a more thrilling and immersive horror experience.

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2017/11/17/resident-evil-7-biohazard-gold-edition-coming-in-december/feed/0Not_A_Hero_-_Screenshot_3zamonthlyNot_A_Hero_-_Screenshot_3.jpgWhat Zombies Can Tell Us about Ourselves: Baylor Professor and Author Talks about ‘Living with the Living Dead’https://zamonthly.org/2017/05/24/what-zombies-can-tell-us-about-ourselves-baylor-professor-and-author-talks-about-living-with-the-living-dead/
https://zamonthly.org/2017/05/24/what-zombies-can-tell-us-about-ourselves-baylor-professor-and-author-talks-about-living-with-the-living-dead/#respondWed, 24 May 2017 21:54:08 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5211Read More What Zombies Can Tell Us about Ourselves: Baylor Professor and Author Talks about ‘Living with the Living Dead’]]>Quick, before it’s too late: May is Zombie Awareness Month — so it’s high time for people to prepare for a zombie pandemic.

But that’s more than a heads-up for those who are passionate about zombies. Those who yawn at the notion of zombies also have reason to take notice, suggests pop culture critic Greg Garrett, Ph.D., of Baylor University.

To answer the question of “Why should we care?” when it comes to zombies, he advises

Greg Garrett, professor of English in Baylor’s College of Arts & Science.

looking deep inside ourselves. Garrett is author of the new book “Living with the Living Dead: The Wisdom of the Zombie Apocalypse” — one of three trade books featured in the United States for 2017 by Oxford University Press, one of the world’s largest academic publishers.

Garrett, professor of English in Baylor’s College of Arts & Science, shared some of his thoughts about zombies past, present and future in this Q&A:

Q: Briefly — if possible — how did alleged zombies originate and how has their image evolved over time?

A: The original zombie comes from Caribbean legends, and refers to a sort of enslaved human being doing the bidding of its master. They might be drugged or supernaturally controlled, and they are victims and objects of our sympathy. A prime example from pop culture is the 1932 film “White Zombie,” starring Bela Lugosi. From 1968 on, when George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” appeared, when we talk about zombies, we’re dealing with a very different sort of creature — a reanimated corpse who is mobile but unknowing and who has the potential to infect others by biting or attacking them. They are the threat, not the object of sympathy. The Middle Ages, the trenches of World War I and the Holocaust are a few of the times of great stress and imminent danger when images or stories of living death have showed up, and 1968 was actually a pretty terrible year as well, with assassinations, the Vietnam War and all kinds of cultural conflict. So maybe it’s not surprising that an absurd number of zombie films have appeared since 9/11, starting with “28 Days Later” a month after the towers fell, or that “The Walking Dead” has been one of the most popular TV shows in the world in our own age of 24/7 bad news.

Q: How do our 21st-Century zombies differ from those of the past?

A: The depiction of the walking dead now is actually pretty similar to ways the dead, or Death, have showed up in art and literature for centuries. One of the foundational moments in my research was standing in the Louvre in front of a 15th-century statue of Death. It used to stand in the Cemetery of the Innocents in Paris, and frankly, it didn’t look all that different from the zombies on TV or in the movies. In all these representations, we look corpses or Death in the face, and we have to deal with our own mortality—as well as maybe thinking about what life is supposed to be. Our 21st-Century zombie habit may be — okay, is — gory and fantastic, but it’s not that different from these earlier images of Death on the march.

Q: Why are people so obsessed with zombies?

A: My argument in “Living with the Living Dead” — and other critics and thinkers have made it for a decade or more — is that zombies represent the perfect menace for us in the post-9/11 West. They can stand in for terrorism, or pandemics, or political unrest, or economic chaos or whatever it is that keeps us up at night. In some of our stories, we take that menace seriously; in others, we play it for laughs, so maybe we don’t have to be quite so frightened by it. At the end of a movie — or a zombie pub crawl — we can go home, turn out the lights and put away that fear for a bit, even if, like terrorism, or pandemics, or political unrest, we’ll have to wrestle with it all again tomorrow. In my work as cultural critic, I’m always asking why certain stories or artists are particularly popular at a given time, and it tends to be because the stories, music or art that appeals to people both entertains them and serves as a way of understanding or reconciling some things about the world and about our lives in the stories and cultural artifacts we consume.

Q: Besides zombies in history and pop culture, you say they have a tie-in to the sacred. Are zombies biblical?

A: Yes and no. As my book’s opening epigraph from the Old Testament book of Zechariah shows, there are images of rotting flesh or animated skeletons or walking corpses in Scripture, although for the most part you won’t find George Romero zombies in the Bible. There is an Internet meme, “Zombie Jesus,” which some people might find amusing and others would find blasphemous. But like all powerful stories, the Zombie Apocalypse does have a spiritual component. It asks and offers some responses to some questions that we’re trying to answer: What does it mean to be human? Why are we drawn to be in community? How can I live an ethical life in a dangerous world? And is the end of the world a good thing or a bad thing? Those are all existential questions dealt with in my Christian faith and in virtually every wisdom tradition with which I’m familiar. In addition to the powerful utility of the zombie as a symbol, I think this story about the end of the world offers us genuine wisdom on how we’re supposed to live.

When I talked to “The Walking Dead” writer/producer Angela Kang, she affirmed that while zombies are the perceived monsters in her show, the true monsters are the human beings. In times of great stress and danger, she said, what are people willing to do to survive? How will those ethical choices endanger them physically? What kinds of soul damage gets done to characters willing to do anything to survive? We look at show characters Rick or Daryl or Carol, and we see them making their choices, and the zombies are a smoke screen of unreality that can make us think the show and other versions of the Zombie Apocalypse don’t have much to do with our own lives. But if we sub out the zombies and sub in terrorists, or refugees, or those politicians we loathe, or whatever it is that we’re scared of, we discover that we start asking the same questions. What, for example, are we willing to do to protect ourselves from terrorists? Build a wall? Torture suspects for information? Start a war? Are we willing to risk death to do what our moral codes or faith traditions tell us what is right? Those are hard questions—but authentic, real-life questions. Once you look at it that way, it becomes clear: the Zombie Apocalypse is really our story.

Q: The Zombie Research Society designated May as Zombie Awareness Month several years ago, aiming to educate people about the causes of a supposed future zombie pandemic and how to prepare for it or prevent it. How realistic is that?

A: Unless life, death, and other core forces in the cosmos work very differently than I understand them to, I think the actual chances of a Zombie Apocalypse are nil. But this kind of preparation, even for fictional disaster, can be useful. The Centers for Disease Control and other national and state governmental agencies have used the story of the zombie pandemic as a way of getting out their messages about how we respond to real-life disasters, including, ironically, many of the threats (terrorism, epidemics, unrest) that I think the Zombie Apocalypse helps us mediate. The governor of Kansas said that if you’re prepared for a zombie pandemic, you’re prepared for anything, and I think he’s probably right.

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2017/05/24/what-zombies-can-tell-us-about-ourselves-baylor-professor-and-author-talks-about-living-with-the-living-dead/feed/0Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMCzamonthly287546_640Zombie apocalypse would wipe out humankind in just 100 days, students calculatehttps://zamonthly.org/2017/05/23/zombie-apocalypse-would-wipe-out-humankind-in-just-100-days-students-calculate/
https://zamonthly.org/2017/05/23/zombie-apocalypse-would-wipe-out-humankind-in-just-100-days-students-calculate/#respondTue, 23 May 2017 18:33:40 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5208Read More Zombie apocalypse would wipe out humankind in just 100 days, students calculate]]>A real-life zombie outbreak would leave the world’s population in shambles, with less than 300 survivors remaining a mere one hundred days into the apocalypse, according to students from the University of Leicester.

Assuming that a zombie can find one person each day, with a 90 per cent chance of infecting victims with the zombie infection, the students from the University of Leicester Department of Physics and Astronomy suggest that by day one hundred there be just 273 remaining human survivors, outnumbered a million to one by zombies.

The students presented their findings in a series of short articles for the Journal of Physics Special Topics, a peer-reviewed student journal run by the University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. The student-run journal is designed to give students practical experience of writing, editing, publishing and reviewing scientific papers.

The student team investigated the spread of a hypothetical zombie virus using the SIR model – an epidemiological model that describes the spread of a disease throughout a population.

The model splits the population into three categories – those susceptible to the infection, those that are infected and those that have either died or recovered. The SIR model then considers the rates at which infections spread and die off as individuals in the population come into contact with each other.

As part of the formula, the students looked atS (the susceptible population), Z (the zombie population) and D (the dead population), suggesting that the average life-cycle of a zombie would be S to Z to D.

They also examined the time frame over which individuals in the population encounter one another.

The initial study did not factor in natural birth and death rates, since the hypothetical epidemic took place over 100 days, resulting in natural births and deaths being negligible compared to the impact of the zombie virus over a short time frame.

Without the ability for humankind to fight back against the undead hordes, the students’ calculations suggest that if global populations were equally distributed in less than a year the human race might be wiped out.

However, in a more hopeful follow-up study, the students investigated the SIR model applied to a zombie epidemic and introduced new parameters, such as the rate in which zombies might be killed and people having children within the nightmare scenario. This made human survival more feasible.

The team factored in how over time survivors may also be less likely to become infected after having experience of avoiding or fending off zombies.

They found that it would be possible for the world’s human population to survive the zombie epidemic under these conditions – and that eventually the zombie population would be wiped out and the human population would recover.

Course tutor, Dr Mervyn Roy, a lecturer in the University of Leicester’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, said: “Every year we ask students to write short papers for the Journal of Physics Special Topics. It lets the students show off their creative side and apply some of physics they know to the weird, the wonderful, or the everyday.”

]]>https://zamonthly.org/2017/05/23/zombie-apocalypse-would-wipe-out-humankind-in-just-100-days-students-calculate/feed/0AirportsallzamonthlyNew Book, “Fangs, Claws, and Camouflage: Zombie Problems” releasedhttps://zamonthly.org/2017/05/22/new-book-fangs-claws-and-camouflage-zombie-problems-released/
https://zamonthly.org/2017/05/22/new-book-fangs-claws-and-camouflage-zombie-problems-released/#respondMon, 22 May 2017 15:44:49 +0000http://zamonthly.org/?p=5201Read More New Book, “Fangs, Claws, and Camouflage: Zombie Problems” released]]>Frances Applequist’s Fangs, Claws, and Camouflage: Zombie Problems brings together vampires, werewolves, the US Marines, the militia and a powerful witch in a battle to save a town overrun by zombies.

The fight begins eight-hundred years earlier with the brave child who became a willful adult, and then the powerful and seductive vampire leader. While other humans hide, two frightened, but stubborn, coeds brave terrifying zombie hordes to document the truth.

One of the ironies of Frances Applequist’s life is that her short stories were published before she took her first college class, before she became a writing tutor, before she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in English Literature, and before she became immersed in college-level teaching. With her husband’s support and her children’s encouragement, she balances her love for family, her love for teaching, and her love for writing.

“Fangs, Claws & Camouflage is an incredible story of supernatural creatures like Avianna and her companions who come to the aid of the humanity against hordes of beings bent on their destruction. A must read!!!” ~Mary Hartshorn (5 Star Review)

“Applequist’s seemingly unlimited knowledge of military maneuvers and terminology make this an interesting read for the male audience while it has romance and a foreign influence for the female readers.” ~E.C. (5 Star Review)

“The section of the book that described the actual zombie battle was a page turner…” ~AC

The ebook version of Fangs, Claws, and Camouflage: Zombie Problems ISBN 9781506902432, published by First Edition Design Publishing (http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com), is available on-line wherever ebooks are sold. The 256 page print book version, ISBN 9781506902418, is published by First Edition Design Publishing and distributed worldwide to online booksellers.